Sound of something in rapid motion:
— Whir of a bird's wings.
— The whir of the propellers.

synonyms: birr, whirr, whirring.

Roget 312: rotation, revolution, spinning, gyration, turning about an axis, turning aound an axis, circulation, roll; circumrotation^†, circumvolution, circumgyration^†; volutation^†, circination^†, turbination^†, pirouette, convolution.    verticity^†, whir, whirl, eddy, vortex, whirlpool, gurge^†; countercurrent; Maelstrom, Charybdis; Ixion.    [rotating air] cyclone; tornado, whirlwind; dust devil.    [rotation of an automobile] spin-out.    axis, axis of rotation, swivel, pivot, pivot point; axle, spindle, pin, hinge, pole, arbor, bobbin, mandrel; axle shaft; gymbal; hub, hub of rotation.    [rotation and translation together] helix, helical motion.    [measure of rotation] angular momentum, angular velocity; revolutions per minute, RPM.    [result of rotation] centrifugal force; surge; vertigo, dizzy round; coriolus force.    [things that go around] carousel, merry-go-round; Ferris wheel; top, dreidel^†, teetotum; gyroscope; turntable, lazy suzan; screw, whirligig, rollingstone^†, water wheel, windmill; wheel, pulley wheel, roulette wheel, potter's wheel, pinwheel, gear; roller; flywheel; jack; caster; centrifuge, ultracentrifuge, bench centrifuge, refrigerated centrifuge, gas centrifuge, microfuge; drill, augur, oil rig; wagon wheel, wheel, tire, tyre [Brit.].    [Science of rotary motion] trochilics^†.    [person who rotates] whirling dervish.    ... show more

Polish: furkot

Make a soft swishing sound:
— The motor whirred.

synonyms: birr, purr, whirr, whiz, whizz.

Dutch: spinnen, snorren, suizelen, suizen